Hand mower



Aug. 15, 1933. Q FELTS 1,922,126

0 HAND MOWER v Filed Aug. 2, 1932- Ularence TFeli's ter blades acting on Patented Aug. 15, 1933 1' PATENT OFFICE HAND MOWER Clarence T. Felts, Jackson, Mich. Application August 2, 1932. Serial No. 627,255 r 8 Claims. (oi. 56- 264) This invention relates to a hand mower designed primarily for the cutting of weeds and short tender grass, but it is to be understood that a mower, inaccordance with this invention, may

be employed for any purpose for which it is found applicable, and, the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter reerred to, a machine of the class referred to including a pair of superposed, oppositely travelling, simultaneously operable, reciprocatory cut the, travel of the machine for cutting weeds, grass, etc., in a thoroughly satisfactory manner.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a machine of the class referred to including a pair of superposed, oppositely travelling, simultaneously operable, reciprocatory cutting blades and a manually propelled driving means including a rotatable balanced element common to said blades for operating the latter in superposed parallel paths at right angles to the direction of travel of the machine, that is to say in alaterall direction with respect to said driving mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a machine of theclassreferred to whichis simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently repaired when occasion requires, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to :manufacture.

@To the above ends, essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is; a sectional elevation of the machine looking towards the front thereof. Figure 2 is an elevation looking from the inner side of the machine. c

, FigureB is a section on line 3--3 Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4+4 Figure 3.

The mower includes a traction wheel 1 including a rim 2, -a series of short spokes 3 integral with the lattercentrally of its inner face, a flat annular web ,4 integralat its outer edge with the inner ends of spokes 3, a hub 5 integral at its outerend with the inner edge of web 4, and an internally toothed ring gear 6 integral with the inner face and flush with the outer edge of web 4. Thering-gear isin the form of an internally toothed annulus. c 5 Supported from the outer face of ring gear 6 is a suspension structure comprising an annulus 7 of angle shaped cross section which encompasses gear 6 and opposes the free edge of the latter. In cross section, annulus '7, is formed of a pair of flanges 8, 9 disposed at right angles to each other, the former opposing the outer side face .10 and the latter opposing the edge 11 of gear 6. The flange 9 extends inwardly with respect to flange 8 and terminates in an annular flange 12 formed on the side face 13 of acircular 65 disc 14. Thefiange 12 is positioned inwardly of the outer edge of disc 151, the latter being provided centrally with an opening 15 anda bossl5 on'face l3 registering with the wall of the latter. Formed integral with the other side 7 facelfi of disc 14 is alaterally disposed sleeve 17 which registers with the wall of opening 15. The disc 14 is of less diameter than gear 6 and is formed in proximity to its outer edge and in alignment with opening 15 with an opening 18 7 of less diameter than that ,of the latter The face 13 of disc 14 is formed witha boss 19 which registers with the wall of opening 18. The face 16 of disc 14 has formed integral therewith a laterally disposed sleeve 19 which registers with the wall of opening 18. Thedisc 14 has depending therefrom and in alignment with openings 15 and 18 a hanger 20which is integral with one end 21 of a casing 22. The latter also includes apair of side walls 23, an end 24, a top 25and a bottom 26. The top25 and bottom 26 are formed with aligning openings .27, 28. The end wall 24 is provided with a transverse slot 29. 'The casing 22 is adapted to contain a body of lubricant. Formedintegral with the end wall 24 of casing 22 is one end of a flanged oblong support 30 disposed at right angles to the direction of travel of the wheel 1; The support 30 is formed with an upstanding flange 31 at its rear lengthwise edge and an upstanding flange 32 at its free end. The support 30 is arranged above the bottom 26 of casing 22.

Extending through the hub 5, opening 15, boss 15 and sleeve 17 is a stationary axle 33 for wheel 1. The axle 33 at its outer end is formed with a head 34 and in proximity to its innerend with a vertical opening 35.

Journaled in the opening 18, boss 19 and sleeve 19' isa rotatable power transmitting shaft 36 carryinga pinion 37 meshing with and driven from the gear 6 on the travel of wheel 1. The shaft 36 extends from'sleeve 19 and is provided with a beveled gear 38 and a pulley 39.

The openings27, 28 align with the opening 35 and extending through said aligning openings and projecting above axle 33 is a vertically disposed shaft 40 carrying a heavy balance wheel 41, a beveled pinion 42 and a pair of superposed oppositely disposed eccentrics 43, 44. The wheel 41 is arranged between axle 33 and casing 22 and preferably consisting of a hollow wheel filled with lead. The pinion 42 is arranged at the top of shaft 40 and meshes with gear 38; The eccentrics 43, 44 are arranged in casing 22.

Mounted in support 30 and operating lengthwise of the latter is a pair of superimposed, oppositely movable reciprocatory cutter blades 45, 46 formed with aligning slots 47, 48 respectively for the passage of a coupling bolt 49, the latter having its head 50 countersunk in support 30. The shank of bolt 49 extends upwardly through slots 47, 48 and carries a washer 51 and a retaining nut 52. The washer 51 is interposed between nut 52 and blade 45. 46 have their forward side edges provided with V-shaped teeth 53, 54 respectively. The blade 46 has extended from its forward side edge between its teeth 54 forwardly extending spaced tapered fingers or guards 55 which are slotted, as at 56 for the passage of the teeth 53 of the blade 45. The blades 45, 46 are extended through the slot 29 in the end Wall 23 into casing 22, and the ends of the blades 45, 46 arranged in the latter are formed with slotted enlargements 57, 58 respectively. Operating in the slot of enlargement 57 and'coacting with the walls of the slot is the eccentric 43 for the purpose of reciprocating blade 45. Operating in the slot of enlargement 58 and coacting with the walls of such slot is the eccentric 44 for the purpose of reciprocating the blade 46. The blades 45, 46 are simultaneously driven, but the former alternately travels in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the blade 46.

Attached to annulus 8 is a rearwardly extended adjustable handle member 59.

The machine may be provided with a feeder wheel for moving the weeds or grass in a direction towards the cutters, and in this connection see Figure 2 wherein a feeder wheel 60 is illustrated. Wheel 60 is attached to a shaft 61 supported from the suspension structure. Shaft 61 carries a pulley 62 driven from an endless belt 63 operated from the pulley 39 on shaft 36.

The elements 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 provide a balanced driving mechanism for the cutter blades. The elements 1, 6, 36 and 3'7 provide an operating mechanism for the driving mechanism. The elements 61, 62 and 63 form a driving mechanism for the feeder wheel. The elements 1, 6, 39 provide an operating mechanism for the feeder driving mechanism.

What I claim is:-

1. A mower comprising a traction wheel, a pair of superimposed reciprocatory cutter blades travelling in opposite directions with respect to each other, a vertically disposed balanced driving mechanism extending through and having superposed parts thereof above its lower end arranged in and directly engaging said blades for simultaneously reciprocating them in opposite directions, and means operated from said traction wheel for operating said driving mechanism.

2. A mower comprising a traction wheel, a suspension structure loosely mounted on and extended laterally therefrom, an axle for said wheel connected to said structure, a pair of superimposed cutter blades travelling in opposite directions with respect to eachother and mount- The blades 45,

ed in said structure, means carried by said wheel and structure to provide a balanced operating mechanism for said blades, and said mechanism including a rotatable part extending through said axle and engaging in said blades.

3. In a mower, a pair of superimposed reciprocatory cutter blades travelling simultaneously in opposite directions with respect to each other and each having a slot at one end, a vertically disposed rotatable element, a pair of superposed oppositely disposed eccentrics fixed to said element, said eccentrics being bodily rotatable with and extended laterally in opposite directions from said element, each of said eccentrics coacting with the wall of the slot in a cutter blade for reciprocating the latter, and a balanced wheel carried by said element above said eccentrics.

4'. Ina hand mower, a traction wheel provided with an internally toothed annulus fixed to one side thereof and providing a ring gear, a suspension structure loosely-mounted upon and extended laterally from said annulus, an axle for said wheel extended through said structure, a pair of superimposed reciprocatory cuttor blades slidably mounted in said structure, a driving mechanism carried by said structure and engaging in one end of said blades for simultaneously reciprocating them and including a balance wheel, and means carried by said structure and coacting with said annulus for operating said driving mechanism.

5. A mower comprising a traction wheel, a pair of superimposed reciprocatory cutter blades travelling in opposite directions with respect to each other, a balanced driving mechanism extending through and engaging with said blades for simultaneously reciprocating them in opposite directions, means operated from said traction wheel for operating said driving mechanism, and said driving mechanism includng an element extending through the inner end of said axle.

6. In a hand mower, a traction wheel, an internally toothed annulus fixed to the inner side of the wheel and providing a ring gear, a suspension structure including a vertical part and a horizontal part disposed at right angles to the lower end of the former, said vertical part loosely mounted on said annulus, an axle for said wheel extending through said vertical part, a pair of superimposed reciprocatory cutter blades slidably mounted in said horizontal part,

1 a driving mechanism carried by said parts and engaging in one end of said'blades for simultaneously reciprocating them and including a balance wheel, and means carried by said vertical part and coacting with said annulus for operating said driving mechanism.

'7. In a mower, a vertically disposed rotatable shaft carrying a balance wheel and having in proximity to its lower end a pair of oppositely disposed superposed eccentrics, and a pair of superimposed cutter blades, each having a slot at one end, said eccentrics positioned in said slots and coacting with the walls of the latter for simultaneously reciprocating said blades alternately in opposite directions with respect to each other.

8. In a mower, a vertically disposed rotatable shaft carrying a balance wheel and having in proximity to its-lower end a pair of oppositely disposed superposed eccentrics, a pair of superimposed cutter blades, each having a slot at one end, said eccentrics positioned in said slots and coacting with the walls of the latter for siinultaneously reciprocating said blades alternately in opposite directions with respect to each other, a suspension structure common to said blades and shaft, a traction wheel, an internally toothed annulus bodily carried by and fixed to one side of the wheel, said shaft having a pinion at its 

